United States

Advocacy for United States

What’s Happening?

The United States established its contemporary refugee resettlement and asylum system in 1980 and, in the decades that followed, developed further protection pathways for migrants, particularly for children, victims of crimes, and people from countries in grave crisis. Since the mid-2010s, the United States has resettled fewer refugees from abroad and limited access to asylum at the southern border. The Biden administration has continued this trend while increasing access to temporary protection and parole pathways.

What Must Be Done?

Refugees International is calling on the United States to end its enforcement approach to asylum at the border, strengthen its refugee resettlement program, and expand pathways to protection to additional forcibly displaced people. After arrival, asylum seekers should be given prompt ability to work and needed services and support.